A DIN rail enclosure is a protective case for electrical devices and components. They enable electronic devices to be mounted onto a standardised metal rail (DIN rail) within a rack or enclosure.
Also known as top hat rail enclosures, they offer a structured and organised way to mount and protect electrical and industrial control components, such as circuit breakers, terminal blocks, power supplies and relays from environmental harm.
DIN rail enclosures are available in a range of sizes, materials and IP ratings for various applications. At RS Australia, we carry metal, polyamide and plastic rail enclosures, as well as DIN rail mount cases, junction boxes and rail cabinets.
A DIN rail is a standardised metal rail used to mount electrical and industrial control components inside equipment racks, cabinets, and enclosures. If you’re wondering what DIN stands for, the name is based on the German standards organisation, Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN).
DIN rails and DIN rail cabinets are widely used in both domestic and industry-specific settings. This is due to their highly modular and flexible nature, which allows for the installation of a wide array of devices in a neat and easily accessible manner.
Developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), an Ingress Protecting (IP) rating or code, is used to determine how much a device can withstand dust and moisture.
These enclosures are protected against solid objects larger than 12.5mm (like fingers) but offer no protection against liquids, making them suitable for dry, indoor environments with minimal dust.
Providing protection against solid objects larger than 1mm, these enclosures offer no liquid ingress protection and are typically used in clean indoor settings.
These enclosures offer complete protection against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets from any direction, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use where some water exposure might occur.
Offering full protection against dust and strong jets of water from any direction, these enclosures are ideal for harsh outdoor or industrial environments where heavy washdowns or strong splashing is frequent.
Metal DIN rail enclosures are generally more durable and provide better electromagnetic shielding, making them ideal for industrial environments where robust protection against physical impact and electromagnetic interference is crucial, such as in factory automation control panels. Steel enclosures are often used in industrial settings.
Plastic DIN rail enclosures are typically lighter, more cost-effective, and offer good electrical insulation, making them suitable for residential consumer applications where weight is a concern. ABS Plastic is an impact-resistant and durable choice suitable for general-purpose applications, while more challenging environments may require polycarbonate DIN rail enclosures.
Industrial Automation: DIN rail enclosures provide a standardised and organised mounting solution for PLCs, relays, and terminal blocks within control cabinets, simplifying wiring and maintenance.
RS Australia is the leading supplier and distributor of high-quality plastic and metal DIN rail enclosures, cases and junction boxes. We stock reliable products from trusted brands such as Phoenix Contact, CAMDENBOSS and Italtronic. We also carry other enclosure and server rack peripherals such as electrical adaptable boxes and server cable management supplies. For more delivery information, visit our delivery page.